The Hero Indian Super League 2016 is set for a grand finale on December 18, 2016 when Kerala Blasters FC and Atletico de Kolkata take the field in front of a massive crowd turning up in numbers of over 50,000. Both teams will try to rise to the occasion and bring their ‘A’ game to the field. To ensure seamless proceedings in this high octane encounter and calm down rising temperatures, the organizers of the Indian Super League have chosen some of the best referees in the world to officiate the match.

Taking control of the final will be Iranian referee Alireza Faghani, who recently made history by becoming the first Asian to officiate the final of Men’s Football at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

A FIFA referee since 2008, Alireza has an envious resume having been in-charge of the 2015 Club World Cup Final along with the 2015 Asian Cup Final. Alireza will be assisted by his team of co-Iranians Reza Sokhandan and Mohammadreza Mansouri as linesman, who had also teamed up with him for the 2016 Olympics Gold match.

With so much at stake, there could have been no better way to uphold the spirit of the game and crown the best team as the Hero ISL 2016 champion by one of the best referees in the world.